Tag Archives: belgian golden ale

24 Carrot Golden Ale collaboration by Juli Goldenberg, Stone brewing and Monkey Paw brewing

by tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

12189531_10102889092582270_3658660521371823198_n 12186368_10102889093290850_5681781129447996488_oRating: 4.85/5

24 Carrot Golden Ale collaboration by Juli Goldenberg, Stone brewing and Monkey Paw brewing is an 8.5% ABV Belgian Carrot Cake Golden Ale brewed with Carrots, Cinnamon, Raisins and Vanilla Beans.

Label:
2015 marked the seventh year of our American Homebrewers Association-sanctioned Stone Homebrew Competition. As in the previous years, dozens of Southern California’s finest recreational fermentationist brought their “A” games. While judging their impressive and wide-ranging handiwork, we noticed something -many of the homebrew entries we’ve received over the history of this competition have incorporated culinary elements of been crafted to mimic the flavors of popular dishes and beverages. From Mexican hot chocolate to Black Forest cake, after-dinner mints to piña coladas, the gold medalist from our annual brewing battle have tackled some interesting and challenging flavor profiles…and persevered. But none have been as foodie-forward as the quaff concocted by this year’s winner, Juli Goldenberg. Our first-ever female victor added carrots, raisins, cinnamon and more to a Belgian-style golden strong ale to create a beer that is the liquid embodiment of carrot cake. The aforementioned flavor enhances bring the fruity, carroty and spice elements to the cake, while vanilla and milk sugar contribute the flavor and creamy texture of fluffy cream cheese frosting. The result: nothing short of brilliant and well deserving of the 24 karat (carrot?) golden opportunity to be brewed by Stone and distributed across the country.

“Homebrewing offers the chance to experiment with pretty much anything you can think of to do to a beer. I am so excited to collaborate with Stone, an icon of San Diego craft beer, and Monkey Paw, a model for continuous experimentation. Cheers to weird beers!”

Juli Goldenberg// Winner, Stone Homebrewing Competition

“Working with Stone and Juli to incorporate culinary artistry and homebrewing innovation into a project of this scale is above and beyond any brewing experience I’ve had.”

Cosimo Sorrentino//Head Brewer, Monkey Paw Brewing Company

“Juli’s recipe is the perfect demonstration of the Innovation and spirit of the fantastic San Diego homebrewing community. It is our distinct pleasure to brew this beer with her.”

Mitch Steele//Brewmaster, Stone Brewing Co.
==Introduction==

Stone’s newest homebrewing competition winning collaboration is here and it is definitely different. For the many brews I have tried over the years, I do not think there has been a carrot cake like beer. I am always open to crazy beer recipes (just like the 99 scorpions). When executed correctly, these beers can be awesome and some will give new experiences. This type of experimentation is kind of what pushes me to try something new now that I do my own homebrewing. It should pave the way for the culinary arts to meet the craft beer arts. Let’s take a look and see what this carrot cake beer is all about.

Aromas:
Carrot cake hints, cinnamon, citrus, grapefruit, grassy and tropical hop bitterness, Golden raisins, Dark fruit raisins, plums, flan, dulce de leche caramel, apple notes, brown sugar, banana hints, clove spice, candy sugar, honey, horchata notes, guava, mango hints, stone fruit peaches, raspberry hints, Danish cream, butterscotch and vanilla.

Flavors:
Rich Carrot Cake flavors with citrus, grapefruit, grassy and tropical hop bitterness, Carrot juice, Golden raisins, Dark fruit raisins, plums, cinnamon, flan, dulce de leche caramel, flan, vanilla, brown sugar, hazelnut nectar, Candi Sugar, piloncillo hints, horchata notes, guava, mango hints, dragon fruit, passion fruit, stone fruit peaches, raspberry hints, Danish cream, butterscotch, vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, crème brulee, bananas and clove spice.

Aftertaste:
Citrusy, grassy, piney hop after taste with the full fledged flavors of the carrot cake like the carrot juice, whipped cream, brown sugar, cinnamon and raisins left. No alcohol in the taste. Clear golden orange body, smooth creamy, silky and refreshing mouth feel and a moderate to sipping drinkability.

Overall:
A very delicious Golden ale that really does taste like what it sets out to be, a carrot cake dessert in a bottle. Essentially I couldn’t help but notice how very similar it was to my Bubulubu White Choco Stout/Golden Ale in the sense that if I took out the Coffee and Cocoa nibs and replaced it with Carrot concentrate, raisins and cinnamon, and the rest was the same like the milk sugar, vanilla beans and the Golden Ale stout, then you pretty much have a similar tasting and very delicious beer. I highly recommend this one as it really took the aspect of culinary and home brewing the next level here. Cheers!

Anime Corner:
Lola Bunny from Looney Toons and Space Jam was chosen in this pairing since I wanted to pair with the aspect of Carrots and Rabbits. I could of gone with Bugs Bunny, but you don’t often get to see Lola and she is perfect as she also has the orange basketball which pairs nicely with the colors of the beer carrots. Since this beer reminded me so much of the Bubulubu one I made, Lola is a reminder as her brown fur was the color or my beer that tasted similar to this.

Sources:
http://orig11.deviantart.net/d65c/f/2015/203/f/0/lola___space_jam_by_namwhan_k-d92bs0y.jpg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/36/c6/a6/36c6a6ea0825ab5966d02213589892c7.jpg

PranQster by North Coast Brewing

by tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

12068818_10102849583713360_5124066634343540358_oRating: 4.5/5

PranQster by North Coast Brewing is a 7.6% ABV Belgian Golden Ale.

Label:
Belgian Ales represent the height of the brewers’ art. Sophisticated brewing techniques, yeast blends and unique flavoring elements have elevated the beers of Belgium to the status enjoyed by wine in other countries. PranQster follows in this tradition using a mixed culture of antique yeast strains that results in a floral nose, a full fruity flavor and a clean finish.

==Introduction==

First time I tried this beer was in 2012. Fastforward to 2015, and my friend Jose, aka Chino, gives me a bottles of beer as payment for fixing his wife’s computer and I was like, SOLD! I had tried many of the other ones including this one but to be honest, I never really had the chance to just sit down and review it. Many of North Coast brews like Old Rasputin and Grand Cru, which are some of my favorites I cheer on about. PranQster was a very delicious beer but I guess I just never brought it to the site, until now! So without further ado, lets take a look at PranQster.

Aromas:
Floral notes, honey, pineapple, grapefruit notes, banana esters, phenolic clove spice, Oranges, peppercorns, wafflecone, pears, bubblegum hints, lemon candy, rock candy, candy sugar, stone fruit peaches, mango, apricots, vanilla, kiwi hints, papaya, passion fruit, coriander spice and cane sugar.

Flavors:
Oranges, peppercorns, Floral notes, honey, pineapple, grapefruit notes, banana esters, phenolic clove spice, candy sugar, stone fruit peaches, mango, apricots, vanilla, kiwi hints, papaya, passion fruit, coriander spice, honey dew melon, wafflecone, pears, bubblegum hints, lemon candy, rock candy and flan hints.

Aftertaste:
Dry finish with peppercorn, stone fruits, phenolic and estery banana notes, Grapefruit hops and floral notes. No alcohol in the taste, Sipping drinkability, clear golden light body, crisp, clean, refreshing and moderate mouthfeel.

Overall:
A very good Golden ale representative of the delicious beers of Belgians, especially Belgian singles. Phenolic, Clovey and spicy like the many greats before it. Not in the Tripel category but pretty near it. A solid Golden for sure and one that is worth trying for sure but not one that I would consistently pick up. I guess my taste for Golden ales has expanded to something even higher. However, for those that are craft beer entry level, this is a good introduction to the delicious worlds of Belgians. Delicious and not overly punching.

Anime Corner:
Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt and also Chuck! cosplaying as the Gorillaz were used in this pairing as they represent the gluttony of the dudes in the label. Mainly though, for the name, pranQster. They are up to no good playing by their own rules. They do what they want. This beer is refreshing and it does what it wants in your taste buds. At one time it will be lots of fruit and at another time it won’t. Learn to play a prank on this one if you will be one to succeed.

Sources:
http://wallpaperus.org/wallpapers/05/187/gillaz-stocking-1980×1080-wallpaper-947494.jpg

2015 Batch No.1 Levud’s by The Bruery

by tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

12017538_10102848150330870_4485300848391141439_oRating: 5/5

2015 Batch No.1 Levud’s by The Bruery is a 9.6% ABV Belgian Golden Ale

Label:
LIMITED RUN

The first beer that we ever brewed, now the first brewed on our new brewhouse. With Czech and Slovenian hops, this crisp, complex ale is sure to delight.

In 2008, we congratulated Mark Graham and Loren Miraglia for winning our Batch No. 1 Homebrew competition by brewing their beer as our very first batch. Recently, we decommissioned our original brewhouse and brought a new, state-of-the-art brewhouse to life. Recreating our first recipe seemed the best way to begin this new chapter in our brewing history. Levud’s is a Belgian-style golden ale that’s crisp, effervescent, complex and filled with memories and significance in our brewery’s history.

==Introduction==

Essentially, the original flagship beer of the Bruery. Their first batch was released once again 7 years since they first opened. This beer was released to Reserve Society members but I also had the chance to try the original when I went to this years Black Tuesday Treatment Workshop. It was essentially, a delicious Golden Ale. Now as I try to remember how the original one was, I will see how this one is as it is a fresh bottle while the other is 7 years old. Let’s see how it is. Cheers!

Aromas:
Belgian Candy Sugar, Citrus, Oranges, bananas, clove spice, stone fruit peaches, apricots, pears, apples, Floral notes, strawberry notes, lemon grass, honey dew melons, peppercorn, mango hints, bubble gum notes, rock candy, phenolic notes, herbal notes and cane sugar.

Flavors:
Floral notes, oranges, lemon grass, honey dew melons, peppercorn, mango hints, pineapple, strawberry notes, grapefruit, piney and herbal hops, phenolic notes, Belgian Candy Sugar, Rock Candy, bubble gum notes, bananas, clove spice, stone fruit peaches, apricots, pears, apples, dragon fruit, honey, vanilla, kiwi notes, papaya, marzipan and passion fruit.

Aftertaste:
Finishes dry with some nice notes of the Belgian candy sugar, tropical fruit hints, stone fruits, phenolic notes, bread, peppercorn and herbal hops notes. No alcohol in the taste despite the ABV, Sipping drinkability, clear golden light body, crisp, clean, refreshing and moderate mouthfeel.

Overall:
A splendid first batch! This one was similar to the one I tried but not as hoppy. I think the nice hops give this one more of a balanced and complex taste with the flavors expanding on some of the flavors I love from Belgian IPAs and Golden Ales. Simply delicious. They surely have grown form all those years ago. While this beer is not the best and is similar to other delicious Golden Ales and Belgian IPAs, the style is made perfectly. Cheers to more years of beers!

Anime Corner:
Vocaloid Hatsune Miku was used in this pairing as I wanted to pair with the color of the green label but also because she is a symbol of Anime culture and popularity of the medium just like the Bruery is a symbol of the craft beer culture and are very popular among many craft beer drinkers for their initiative to think outside the box and be very experimental. Also, the background pairs well with the many flavors of the beer.

Sources:
http://i2.minus.com/iyKNFmJCIPKBK.jpg

Collaboration Series: Souren, a collaboration with The Bruery Terreux and 8 Wired brewing

by tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

11896317_10102795638140720_8774401646030576276_o 1535045_10102795639597800_6131911592104756406_n 11990490_10102795640630730_6463229806975772904_nRating: 4.85/5

Collaboration Series: Souren, a collaboration with The Bruery Terreux and 8 Wired brewing is a 9.9% ABV Sour Belgian Golden with Pinot Noir Grapes.

COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION
Souren is named for our pal Søren who runs the show down in the far-off land of New Zealand at 8 Wired Brewery. Taking the long way home after a trip to the States, Søren and his team stopped off in Placentia for a day of brewing, and we created a very California-style sour beer together. Starting with a Belgian-style golden ale base, Pinot Noir grapes were added and the beer was sent to rest in barrels at Bruery Terreux. Over the year, the complexities grew and this grapey, funky, spicy beer was born. Half Kiwi, half American, this one has a rather handsome accent.

==Introduction==

Released by the Bruery Terreux for the Reserve Society members in August 2015 after they opened their new Sour Facility. This beer is in collaboration with 8 wired which I have not tried their stuff yet but I might give them a shot now that I know of them. So this sour is supposed to cross into the realm of the wine level or so the pinot noir grapes indicate this. Sour have a special place when it comes to the wine world as some of the flavors might complimentary. It is just a thought but if not, lets just continue and give this one a shot, Cheers!

Aromas:
Rich wine grapes, funky musty grapes, Stone fruit, apricots, peaches, apples, mango hints, strawberries, dark fruit cherries, plums, prune hints, tart berries, black berry, dragon fruit, passion fruit, Tart pineapple, oak, hibiscus flowers, lavender, peppercorns and brown sugar.

Flavors:
Rich Concorde grapes, pinot grapes, wine grapes, white grapes, champagne, Stone fruit, apricots, apples, mango hints, strawberries, vanilla, toffee, lemon peel, orange peels, prickly pears, grapefruit peel, peppercorn, funky notes, farmhouse hay, dark fruit cherries, plums, prune hints, tart berries, black berry yogurt hints, dragon fruit, passion fruit, Tart pineapple, oak, hibiscus flowers, lavender and white sage spice.

Aftertaste:
Tart grapes, Tart Apricots, Tart Strawberries, yogurt notes, lemon, citrus, earthy funk notes, hay hints and mild tropical fruit hints. No alcohol in the taste, Honey Golden clear light body, moderate mouthfeel, crisp, moderate drinkability,

Overall:
A very good sour! Seems like the Bruery has really been working to step up their sour expertise. I found this pleasantly wonderful with a great balance of tart fruits and sour funkiness. I am not sure how much the 9.9% ABV helps to keep stuff in check but it seems to be working because everything is pretty balanced. For those that do not like sour, this maybe a gate way into them as you will take a liking to its sweetness and then pulled in to the sour Nirvana. Highly recommended.

Anime Corner:
Nonon Jakuzure from Kill La Kill has made her way into her first appearance in a Bruery review. I chose her for this beer mainly due to her infamous Japanese phrase “Nani Sore!” Which you maybe able to tell it is close to the name of the beer. That and the fact that this beers balance is on the tart fruity and the sour funk. Nonon is the type of character that is sweet looking and hot on the outside like the sweet fruit flavors of the beer but damn, she can be rude, obnoxious and in some for rotten to the core which coincide with the sour funkiness. However, it is not to say she is a bad girl by any means as she is a supporting character to the protagonist’s sister (Ryuko’s sister Satsuki). So because the beer so delicious and balanced, she works out for this beer. Not to mention, her pink colors contrast that of the rich berries and grapes.

Sources:
http://i.imgur.com/gbCVK8O.jpg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/30/10/0a/30100aa481834244b50227e9188bd5a2.jpg

Bubulubu Ghost In the White Choco Shell by Nubis Sanctum Ales

by tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

11947677_10102786507992610_7982179915986756099_n 11905793_10102786508366860_4808204856211084518_nRating: 4.85/5

Bubulubu Ghost In the White Choco Shell by Nubis Sanctum Ales is a 7% ABV Imperial Belgian Golden Stout brewed with cocoa nibs, vanilla beans, lactose, candi sugar and Unicorn Blood Coffee.

==Introduction==
11109154_10102628526673440_4766544949044569079_o

Partial base wort was brewed using brewing equipment at Monkish for the “Monster Home brew Event” back in June 2015. The idea was to create a base pale wort using the equipment at Monkish brewing. Each person would get 5 gallons (or 10 or more depending on how much you would pay) from this concoction you would take it home add to the wort to change the style completely to more than 10 different styles of beer. I purchased 10 gallons and for the first 5 decided to go with a style that is super rare but super delicious and that was the Gold Stout. However, adding my own spin to things and creating a Belgian Golden Milk stout was definitely the key. With all the sweetness in play and complex ingredients, I was sure to maybe get something like a Golden Stout or Ghost Stout as I like to call it because looks can be very deceiving to the taste. So here is my take at the first White Chocolate Stout beer, cheers!

Aromas:
Coffee notes, caramel, peanut butter hints, Milk chocolate,white chocolate notes, vanilla, flan hints, honey, honey dew melon, pecan pie notes, white grape notes, banana notes, clove spice, maple syrup, toffee, butterscotch hints, candy sugar, agave syrup hints, marshmallow, stone fruit peaches, apricot, apple notes, herbal tea hints, milk sugar and slight coconut.

Flavors:
Vanilla, Irish Cream, Coffee notes, caramel, peanut butter hints, Milk chocolate,white chocolate notes, flan hints, honey, coconut hints, marshmallow, stone fruit peaches, apricot, apple notes, herbal tea hints, milk sugar, honey dew melon, pecan pie notes, white grape notes, banana notes, clove spice, maple syrup, toffee, butterscotch hints, candy sugar, agave syrup hints, biscuit bread and raspberry notes.

Aftertaste:
Belgian bready notes, vanilla, stone fruit hints, chocolate, caramel, milk sugar, earthy notes and slight berry notes. No alcohol in the taste, Clear Golden body, creamy, smooth, silky, velvety and mellow mouthfeel with a easy to moderate drinkability.

Overall:
A very delicious first attempt at a clear Golden Stout seems to be a great success. It is clear, it is easy to drink, not too overwhelming or strong and a variety of delicious flavors. My only complaint would be that the carbonation was not where I wanted it to be, the flavors are more toward a Golden ale and minorly a Golden Stout. Either way, that is most likely nit picky but a great learning experience.

Anime Corner:
Tia Harribel from Bleach was used in this pairing to be the firs in the Monster Brew Theme. The monster I went with is a Ghost and in a Shell at that. She is not Motoko Kusanagi but let me explain. You see, under here beautiful exterior of golden locks and soft dark skin which represents the color of the beer and flavors, underneath, she is all bones. Meaning her skin is like a shell of chocolate. The name Bubulubu derives from the Mexican candy with the same name. A marshmallow chocolate and raspberry treat but it also means Ghost. Like Boo!! Boo!! Lubu! Essentially. So Tia was the closest I can come up with. Why use the name of gold like the locks of her hair? Easy, as I explained earlier about Golden Stouts defying perception because the true identity is in the flavor, it is easy to see why her outer exterior is as deceiving as the true flavor which is the ghost or skeleton in side her white chocolate exterior is what truly hides the purpose. That and the fact that I used Unicorns Blood Coffee so that just adds to the whole creepy aspect of Ghosts and beers!

Sources:
http://img.manga-sanctuary.com/big/bleach-serietv-coffret-54-limitee-78620.jpg
http://orig08.deviantart.net/9faa/f/2009/317/3/3/halibel_by_sketchtastrophe.jpg

Fifty Niner by Odell Brewing

by tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

10360769_10102152758426820_265313859018849441_nRating: 4.85/5

Fifty Niner by Odell Brewing is a 10% ABV Belgian Golden Ale brewed with Brettanomyces.

Label:
Brett or Bust! 1859 was the peak of the Colorado Gold Rush. Prospectors and dreamers, later dubbed 59ers, journeyed across the land with the hopes of striking it rich. In that spirit of adventure, Fifty Niner is a Golden Ale aged on oak staves and bottle conditioned with Brettanomyces, a yeast as wild as the new frontier. The lustrous golden brew shines with hints of lemon zest and pear accentuated by a rich vanilla and almond oak character and a subtle earthy spiced pineapple Brett finish.
___

Odell brewing is something we hardly get to see here in California, especially this beer. Thanks to Aaron at www.beermetaldude.com I was able to bring this to the website for a review. So far, all the beers I have had from Odell have been really good and guessing by the way this is made, I can only assume an awesome experience. So let us dig into this review and see what flavors we can unearth.

Aromas:
Honey, caramel, vanilla, pecans, almonds, oak, funky notes, tropical mango, pineapple, stone fruit apricots, peach cobbler, vanilla, floral notes, peppercorns, sage spice, wine grapes, brettanomyces funk, guava notes and sugar cane.

Flavors:
Peach cobbler, caramel, dark fruit dates, stone fruit apricot, plums, pineapple, mild funk, farmhouse hay, peppercorns, oak honey, vanilla, almonds, pecan pie, citrus, flowers, sugar cane, sage spice, tropical fruit like papaya, kiwi, earthy and musty notes, biscuit bread, rye bread, wine grapes, brettanomyces funk, and guava.

Aftertaste:
Leaving rich citrus, honey, peppercorn, funky notes and tropical sweetness. A small amount of booziness in the taste but not detracting from the flavors. Light to medium body, sipping drinkability as well as mildly syrupy mouthfeel.

Overall:
A very good and sweet brettanomyces ale and the fact that it is a Golden ale too clashes with the rich tropical goodness of what both have to offer. It is almost like a funky tropical old and exotic fruit dessert. Alot going on here that makes this one very delicious. I would definitely recommend this one if you like Belgian styles like Golden Ales and to some degree, Saisons or just both styles.

Anime Corner:
Nami from One Piece was used in this pairing to pair with the colors of the label but also the aspect of being in a cave digging up gold or at least finding gold. The main difference between the treasure seeking pirates and a Gold miner is the fact that you may or may not keep your findings. In this case, you can make this Golden liquid yours!

Sources:
http://cs.sankakucomplex.com/data/47/c4/47c448853afbbd261a1715fd43ee7b80.jpg?3771852

Golden Orchard by the Bruery

by tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

10646638_10102061170699360_7126153443141740833_n 10411253_10102061171358040_795011783153060593_n 10418862_10102061172490770_7773483770548582506_nRating: 5/5

Golden Orchard by the Bruery is a 9.1% ABV Belgian Golden Ale brewed with brettanomyces.

Label:
NEWTON’S BREWTON

This Belgian-style golden ale was fermented with brettanomyces. The result delivers fresh, fruity tones like wandering through an open Orchard.

Golden Orchard was fermented with both our house yeast as well as a strain of brettanomyces. After months of bottle conditioning, the yeast lent a delightful flavors of fresh cut apples to the beer and inspired its name. Golden Orchard is best enjoyed fresh, but may evolve pleasantly over time if cellared properly.
___

Currently sold to the Reserve Society but maybe released to the public soon, or at least I hope as I cannot confirm. This beer was an addition to the September 2014 release of beers. I have never heard of this one in the making. It seems like some are just released at random times which they don’t mention. They once made a beer called White Orchard from what I remember but I never tried it. They also made a Black Orchard long ago. But those beers are long and gone. This one is probably a revival of the white orchard. Either way though, I will put it on review to see how good it goes. Cheers!

Aromas:
Rich golden apples, red apples, peppercorn, biscuit bread, citrus, vanilla, honey, flowers, Tropical fruits like mango, pineapple, papaya, guavas, dragon fruit, stone fruits like peaches, apricots, manzanita sol apple soda, apple pie, cinnamon, waffle cone, bananas, clove spice, brown sugar and fruity brett.

Flavors:
Rich gala golden apples, Honey, vanilla, Tropical fruits like mango, pineapple, papaya, guavas, dragon fruit, stone fruits like peaches, apricots, pears, red apples, sour green apples, manzanita sol apple soda, peppercorns, fruity brettanomyces, caramel, biscuit bread, bananas, clove spice hints, flowers, apple pie, cinnamon hints, citrus, waffle cone and brown sugar.

Aftertaste:
Leaving the palate with a dry golden apple, biscuit, vanilla, stone fruit and tropical residue with a bit of tart bitterness. No alcohol in the taste, light to medium body, crisp, refreshing, easy to drink and smooth despite the ABV, light to medium body.

Overall:
Extremely exemplifying the style. The fact that this beer is very fruit forward of a Belgian almost to the point of like drinking an actual golden apple pie or apple soda, is damn good. Nothing watery at all either, the yeast and bready phenols makes it straight like an apple pie but not as much cinnamon. This is very good. Highly recommended.

Anime Corner:
Nega Satsuki Kiryūin from the Kill La Kill OVA was used in this pairing to show the aspects of the Golden apple flavors as well as the red and green apples. Golden Orchard is basically her representative that pairs well with the colors of the label, the aspects of the beer flavor, aromas and ABV strength yet smoothness. While Nega Satsuki was no match for the original or her sister, just like certain flowers that only bloom at certain times, she was the epitome of awesome before her final withdraw into oblivion. Oh well, she did kinda look like a super saiyan!

Sources:
http://33.media.tumblr.com/9aacf1c28a959b37bb51df2710042c34/tumblr_nbmos9D9g31sqqtwzo1_1280.jpg
http://33.media.tumblr.com/d4d7660d609e97a742fed47e06f057b4/tumblr_nbfslhQbSw1qilx2mo2_500.jpg

Atomic Kangarue collaboration by The Bruery and Smog City

by tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

10356216_10102017683263530_2221085792071013665_n 10440646_10102017682979100_3087017942918613446_nRating: 5/5

Atomic Kangarue collaboration by The Bruery and Smog City is a 9.5% ABV American Wild Ale dry hopped and brewed with grapes.
Label:

HOLY SMOGOLY!
This complex ale was brewed with 2 grape varieties, fermented with brett trois, blended with a sour ale, dry hopped with Amarillo hops & bottled just for you.

We’ve been friends with the folks at Smog City for many years and getting to brew a beer with them was a dream come true. Truly, only in the world of dreams could this remarkable beer have been manifested. A Belgian-style golden ale, brewed with Semillon and Viognier grapes plus three types of hops, fermented with Brettanomyces Trois as well as our house yeast strain, then blended with a sour blonde ale and finally dry-hopped with Amarillo hops. This beer couldn’t be more complex and we couldn’t be more proud of it.

___

This beer was a collaboration from Torrance local favorite, Smog City and The Bruery of Placentia. When I first heard they were doing a collaboration, I really wondered how it would turn out. As the Bruery is mainly experimental Belgian styles and Smog City IPA and variety styles. They bring forth a beer that actually uses Smog City’s best kept secret, the use of Amarillo hops which is what fan favorite, Amarilla Gorilla is based on. So since the Bruery rarely uses or plays with hops in their potent beers, a 9% doucey with hops I could only imagine how it would go. This beer was originally released to Reserve Society members and I believe will be hitting the public venues where the Bruery and Smog City beers are sold. Definitely can’t wait to try it, so let me break this caged beast for you, cheers!!

Aromas:

Oranges, citrus, lemon peel, peppercorn, vanilla, herbal, floral, piney and grassy hops, biscuit bread, honey, farmhouse hay, white grapes, white sage spice, coriander, basil, garlic notes, dragon fruit, passion fruit, pineapple, strawberries, papaya, stone fruit like apricots, peaches, mango, herbs and spices.

Flavors:

Oranges, tangerine, white sage spice, floral notes, flowers, white grapes, brettanomyces, stone fruits like apricots, peaches, vanilla, caramel, lemon peel, citrus, grapefruit, herbal, floral, piney and grassy hops, rich biscuit bread, honey, farmhouse hay, basil, garlic notes, onion hints, dragon fruit, honey dew melon, passion fruit, pineapple, strawberries, papaya, farmhouse hay, herbs, honey, white wine grapes, musty funky notes, stone fruit apricots, peaches, old mango, coriander spice, clove spice and hints of allspice.

Aftertaste:

Tangy Oranges, Tropical fruit notes, floral hops, vanilla, herbs and spices linger. No alcohol in the taste, easy to medium drinkability, light to moderate mouthfeel, medium to light body, very crisp and refreshing.

Overall:

A perfect collaboration! Drinking more along of the Belgian Strong Pale Ale or Golden Ale, this beer definitely takes its roots and reminds me a lot of the Eschatological Ale from Stillwater if it was more sweeter with grapes and a bit more tropical. This beer is not a complete sour at all. The balance with the bitter hops and the brettanomyces helps it blend to a sweet, bitter and sour/tart tri-force of flavors.

Anime Corner:

Android 18/Lazuli from Dragon Ball Z/GT was used in this pairing to pair with the Sour Blond aspect and the colors of the beer as well as several things. Lazuli was evil in her beginnings but it wasn’t until she was in danger and was cared for by the protagonist Krillin, in which she learned to care and love. She grew sweeter and softer which eventually showed her true powers. This is reflected in the beers tropical and sweet yet bitter and sour aspect. Hey just because 18/Lazuli is sweet and awesome she still has attitude. That ain’t going away. Her stance is that of like an animal style in Kung-Fu lore. I have no idea what it is but let us call that one “The Kanagarue” Style lol. While I added Trunks in the mix, I wanted to basically show that basically, the Bruery while all powerful, a brewery like Smog City, in this case Lazuli, can bring so much more to the table and together can take the world by storm. Awesome job guys!!

Sources:
http://cfile30.uf.tistory.com/image/2123114651D44B2806EEB0
http://www.zerochan.net/full/1561469

Stochasticity Project Varna Necropolis by Stone Brewing

by tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

10447528_10101935651640560_7351138857085732387_nRating: 4.75/5

Stochasticity Project Varna Necropolis by Stone Brewing is am 8.6% Belgian Golden/Strong Pale Ale Aged in Bourbon Barrels.

Label:
STOCHASTICITY
STO-KAESTI-CITY
There is no happenstance or coincidence. Dumb luck is a fallacy and randomness a commonly accepted mistruth. Much of what seemingly falls into place and seems so natural is a result of Stochasticity, a concept embraced and exalted by this special and unpredictable series of beers, where exotic notions, ingredients and ideas coalesce at an interesting and often unexpected endpoint.

For many, the verbiage “Belgian Golden Strong Ale” conjures the mental visage of a chalice of straw-hued liquid nearly overflowing with tight, fluffy, white bubbles. Though that effervescent European classic was a solid base for this, the sophomore release from our center for beer experimentation, but to test its unexplored possibilities, we added a sufficient lode of hops to up the ale’s bitter character and dry finish. Next came a lengthy aging period in bourbon whiskey barrels, quite the rarity for this style. Named for the Bulgarian site from which the largest golden treasure in history was excavated, this beer presents a wealth of next-level nuances including vanilla, wood and spice.

Beer Facts
OG 16°P
TG 0.21°P
IBUs 48
ABV 8.6% v/v
Color: 6.4 °L/ SRM (Standard Reference Method)
pH 4.22

Malt Varieties
Pale Malt and Flaked Oats

Hop Varieties
Simcoe and Amarillo

Aged in
Bourbon Barrels
___

The second beer on my journey during the World cup quarter finals and Anime Expo was this beer. I had initially traveled to Long Beach then the heart of downtown and Pasadena California all in a days worth to be able to get my hands on this piece of gold. This beer can only be obtained if you visit one of the Stone Company Stores only as it was not give a wide distribution. Not sure why, but anyways, I wanted to bring this forth as I have been wanting to try this since April of this year. Cheers!

Aromas:
Peppercorns, Piney, grassy, floral and grapefruit hops, oak, vanilla, biscuit bread, butter scotch, bourbon hints, citrus, oranges, coriander spice, cardamom,waffle cone, brown sugar, mango, pineapple, honey, musty grapes, farmhouse hay, flowers, honey and herbs.

Flavors:
Rich vanilla, oak, bourbon notes, flowers, peppercorns, banana clove spice, flan hints, caramel, piney, grassy and grapefruit hop notes, old oranges, wine grapes, farmhouse yeast, mushrooms, lemon peel, apricots, mango, coconut hints, coriander spice, wine and cheese party, honey, herbs and waffle cone.

Aftertaste:
Finishes Tart citrus, grapefruit, peppercorns, oak, bourbon, vanilla, honey grapefruit hops and old mango. No alcohol in the taste, light body, medium drinkability and medium mouth feel.

Overall:
While this is a very good beer, it starts to get to that perfect level once it starts to warm up. I have had other beers that really come close to this one but the bourbon really adds that extra level of complexity that I have not seen in such a beer. A Belgian Pale/Gold Ale in bourbon? It happened, and it seems to definitely work here. However, the bourbon barrel only gives it a slight sweetness as it leads more towards a sweet and tart taste as the hops still come on a little strong. A beer that probably comes close is the White Oak from the Bruery (Wheatwine Aged in Bourbon). Definitely give this one a try and see if this one works magic for you!

Anime Corner:
Original artwork by bcnyart at deviantart.com was used in this pairing because I wanted to pay tribute to the history that is represented in this beer. Liquid Gold and the name Varna Necropolis which is the tomb that holds the oldest treasures in the world. As you can see, the character is wearing all sorts of golden goodies dating even back into the Egyptian times as an example. I wish I could have found something relating to Bulgaria, lots of treasure and anime but Egypt serves as a great example in terms of age and some of the Egyptian tombs are just as old or maybe younger but still a good representative of treasures.

Sources:
http://bcnyart.deviantart.com/art/Dragons-with-Egyptian-Treasure-454386743

MischMishMish by The Bruery

by tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

10291768_10101795749076420_970305752491464130_nRating: 5/5

MischMishMish by The Bruery is an 8.8% ABV Belgian Strong Golden Pale Ale brewed with Apricots.

Label:
MAKE NO MISHTAKE
Fermented with brettanomces and infused with sweet apricots, this ale offers flavors and colors as golden as a California summer.

After brewing one of our fruited sour ales, we found ourselves with a few too many leftover apricots in the fridge. Rather than starting a smoothie company, we decided to create this unique take on the popular Belgian-style golden ale. The addition of apricots strikes a lovely balance with our fruity house yeast, yielding a delightfully mishmishchieveous ale. Mischmishmish is best enjoyed fresh.
___

Want to talk about rarity and limited edition? How about limited quantity? So much that the only people that got this beer at 1 bottle per person limit were from the Hoarders and Reserve society between April and May 2014? How about that for exclusive? Well, it is a pain in the ass but I really wanted to do a review on this beer just because I wanted to see if it was truly worth a damn. Yes, even such a short ass supply of beers like these shouldn’t even phaze the masses as I am sure they have tried something like or extremely similar to this. Then again, we won’t find out until we try right? Well, I will do my best to break this one down and see what I can compare it to. This beer is a mix of Filmishmish and Mischief from the Bruery with lots of apricots. While I wish I could share this with many enthusiast around the world, just like Spiderman in Family guys once said and the fact of what life is, “Everyone only gets One!” and in this case, the members 😦 .

Aromas:
Pureed Apricot Central, biscuit bread, caramel, vanilla, peaches, stone fruit, lychee, peppercorns, farmhouse yeast, brettanomyces, honey, peppercorns, oak, citrus, lemon, peach preserves, plum cherry, mild wine funky hints, sugar cone, mild grape hints and waffle cone.

Flavors:
Lots of very rich sweet and Tart apricots, peaches, biscuit bread, vanilla, honey caramel, lemon, citrus, peppercorns, vanilla, oak, plum, cherry, farmhouse yeast, wine grape hints, wet hay, peppercorns, hints of mushroom, peach and apricot preserves on rye, waffle cone, bananas, stone fruits, lychees, guava notes, clove spice and bananas.

Aftertaste:
A bit Apricot, biscuit bread, and caramel with a very dry finish. No alcohol in the taste. A moderate sipping beer yet crisp and refreshing with a medium mouth feel.

Overall:
While the beer is powerful with the apricot notes and well is very delicious, I do think that many can find something similar. This beer is no longer a sour and is more of a fruit beer than anything. A bready apricot fruit beer. Truly one for the summer if by some miracle you can get this beer. I can honestly say though, there are still some greater apricot tasting beers out there that you can find for sure.

Anime Corner:
Sakura Igawa from Taimanin Asagi is the younger sister of Asagi Igawa whos is an anti demon kunoichi. She was chosen for this rare beer as since her colors fit perfectly for with the label and the flavors. This is kind of her first appearance but generally her first solo appearance so it was perfect in that aspect. Mischief tends to be a Belgian Golden Ale which is usually related to demons as you can tell from the tail in the label. She is a ninja that fights demons so it makes sense. Basically, if we look at flavors, she is the sweet apricots that quenches the demons in the Filmishmish so removing all the sour notes leaving more sweet and tart notes instead. Good stuff for a super rare beer. Like a 1 in 100 random encounter…..

Malheur Zestig by Brouwerij De Landtsheer

by tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

1380507_10101484476918320_823335324_nRating: 4.8/5

Malheur Zestig by Brouwerij De Landtsheer is a 10% ABV Strong Golden Belgian IPA

Label: 
Aromatic hops of European origin. Malheur Zestig has a high level of bitter units and a balanced hop flavor.
___

Get this from the Rarebeerclub.com While trying to order, Jolly Pumpkin’s Los Vivos y Muertos Saison, they had to replace that beer with this one due to the Government shut down in early October 2013. While I was a bit disappointed, great talks about this beer made me think otherwise. Since I had ordered previously to get the JP beer, I was sent this one instead. Not a bad choice at all considering that it is made by the brewery who has ties to De Halve Maan Brewery. I was pleasantly surprised.

Aromas are of white peppercorns, cloves, peach, floral and herbal hops, apricot, biscuit bread, herbs, coriander spice, citrus, vanilla, slight oak hints and pears

Flavors are of the awesome Belgian IPA goodness I like but with more fruit and herbs. White peppercorns, peach, phenolic spices, cloves, coriander, flowers, honey, herbal hops, apricot, biscuits, vanilla bread, waffle cone, citrus, lemon, pear, apples,

Aftertaste is mildly hoppy but floral, herbal, fruity and honey sweet. This is one good Belgian beer. Very nice, smooth and refreshing. Hidden alcohol and moderate drinkability.

Overall, an amazing great Belgian IPA. It hits the right places. Nice Flowers and hop character and releasing some very nice bread, yeast, spicy and fruity flavors. Definitely recommended if you love Belgian beers for sure.

Anime Corner:
Alkaid from the Dothack series. A character with a fiery and pride driven personality defending herself at any moments notice (Hop and white peppercorn influence of the beer). While maybe hot headed, she is a very loyal friend and a protector to those she trusts and respects. She would defend their honor as well (fruit and vanilla sweetness). This beer not only matches some of this characters personality but also her colors, red hair with the yellow and black outfit. If you see any other pairings to this art piece let me know

Black & Blue by Dogfish Head

by tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

999069_10101295878895270_1465842618_nRating: 4.25/5

Black & Blue by Dogfish Head is a 10% ABV Belgian Golden Ale brewed with Black raspberry and Blueberry puree.

COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION (ratebeer.com)
Black & Blue is golden Belgian Ale made with over 300 lbs of fresh blackberries and blueberries. With a deep purple full body and a long-lasting lacy pink head, this ale is both attractive and delicious! It is tart and fruity, like our brewers! The subtle bitterness of Hallertau and Saaz hops shines through the fruit forward flavor and sets the palate aglow. (30 IBUs). This tasty brew has smooth but noticeable alcohol warmth. Belgian yeast gives this brew a characteristically dry spicy finish. The beautiful interplay of fruit, spice, and alcohol is complimented by a soft malt profile, and a high level of carbonation.
___

Aromas are of grapes, biscuit bread, raspberries, blueberries, wheat, cherries, citrus, peach, apples, coriander spice and strawberry jam.

The flavors are of lots of tart black and blueberries, wine grapes, apple, apricots, biscuit bread, wheat, apples, citrus, coriander spice, bananas on toast with strawberry jam, and clove notes.

Pretty sweet, fruity and tart beer. Hard to sense the alcohol. It is one of those beers that hides the alcohol very well. The beer almost feels sorta like a wine in the after taste but leaves a good amount of very nice residual banana and fruit on bread.

Overall, for people that like wine or fruit beers, this is very nice. What makes it that more delicious is the Belgian yeast strain which gives it that nice clovey, banana bread like flavors through out the beer. 

Certainly this does very good in comparison to other fruit beers. Except for maybe their Forte beer and the awesome Montegiocco Draco which is brewed with lots of Blueberries and makes is actually taste like a blueberry muffin. Anyways, that is another beer in a past review. Still, this beer does very well for itself. It is one of those beers that I would go with if I am in the mood for a fruit beer. Unless its chocolate and fruit, then that would be something else altogether

Belgian-Style Apple Ale by Hopworks Urban Brewery

by tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

1003276_10101279480283220_362030466_nRating: 3.9/5

Belgian-Style Apple Ale by Hopworks Urban Brewery is a 5.8%ABV Belgian Golden Ale brewed with Organic Apple Juice

Label: 
Hopworks Organic Apple Ale is the marriage of a traditional Belgian Golden Ale with juice from Organic Washington and Oregon apples. Delicate floral aromas layer over tart flavors of freshly picked Honeycrisp and Gala apples. A subtle wheat malt body gives way to a refreshing, effervescent finish. Crisp and delicious as a Fall day in the orchard.
___

Aromas are of apples, peppercorns, floral an bready hops, flowers like that of saisons, hibiscus, biscuit, 

Flavors are of apples, peppercorns, biscuit bread, honey, pilsnery malts, spicy cloves, flowers, tangy and funky fruit notes almost like a citrus and apricots.

This beer finishes dry leaving a nice refreshing bitterness with some apple and apricot notes. 

For a light, refreshing and crisp Belgian ale, this one goes a long way. For me, I like more apple and Belgian over powering beers like Ephemere or even non beers like the Crispin’s the Saint. Technically the latter is not beer but aside from that, I enjoyed this one. I feel as if I can drink several of these and still feel some great apple and Belgian notes. This is better than the Shocktop Apple Crisp even though that one was the best of their line of beers I have tried. However, this cannot be compared as it is way better than that.

Beard Beer by Rogue Brewing company

by tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

544192_10101131861751940_268162698_nRating: 4.25/5

Beard Beer by Rogue Brewing company is a Belgian Blonde/Golden Ale with an ABV of ~5.6%. Not sure if this is the final name of the beer or if it was a prototype release. Originally released in April 1st, 2013 whom many believed was a joke. Joking aside, the plans were already in motion for this beer’s development since 2012 which was going to be called “Chatoe Rogue New Crustacean Barleywine”. While this may still be true, the beard yeast will most likely be used in that project.

Label: 
Beard Beer is brewed with a yeast created from Brewmaster John Maier’s Beard. No Need to freak out, Brewers have used wild yeasts in beer making for centuries. John has had the same Old Growth Beard since 1983 and for over 15,000 brews, so it is no great surprise that a natural yeast ideal for brewing was discovered in his beard.

What does Beard Beer taste like? Try it, we think you’ll be surprised…

Ingredients:
Water
Hops
Barley
Beard Yeast

14deg Plato
25 IBU
71 AA
6deg L

http://johnsbeard.com/ 
___

This is probably another one of those crazy open minded experiments for me. The last weird beet I tried was the Rocky Mountain Oyster stout which surprisingly was very awesome. Now there is really no beard hair in this beard but the yeast from John Maier’s beard was used to make this. Yeast is technically found almost anywhere and many of them have been known to be able to ferment sugars. So there is definitely nothing weird about this beer and science, or is there? Anyways, here’s to science! 

Upon opening this beer I got some very nice fragrant notes. Biscuit bread, citrus, guava, peppercorns, pineapple, banana, lychee fruit, pears and apples. The flavors are very good actually. Flavors are of biscuit bread, honey, slight caramel, peppercorns, apples, citrus, pineapple, bananas, slight mango, slight grassy bitterness, guava notes, spicy cloves, coriander and minor tart lemon peel. The aftertaste remains mainly bready and fruity with some nice spice and some bitterness. This is beer is basically a light Tripel or a saison. The beer is very drinkable, fruity, crisp and refreshing. This is the perfect beer for the coming summer and is perfect for the spring time. Don’t be afraid to try it, it really is is good.

*ABV is calculated based on Rogue’s notes on calculating ABV based on Plato divided by 2.5. In this case (14/2.5)=5.6% approximately (http://rogue.com/beers/beers.php )

Duvel Rustica by Ommegang

by tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.25/5

Duvel Rustica by Ommegang is an 8.5% Belgian Strong/Imperial Golden Ale. 

Label:

Duvel Rustica is our American farmhouse interpretation of Duvel Golden Ale, renowned worldwide as the finest Belgian Golden Ale. Like Duvel, our ale begins with a perfect balance of fine malts and noble hops, then undergoes fermentation with Ommegang’s proprietary yeast. 

Duvel Rustica is a richly flavorful and aromatic brew with the depth and complexity of the finest Belgian ales. Enjoy the alluring flavors and aromas, fine carbonation, full body, hazy rustic golden hue, fluffy white head and dry, warming finish. 
———

I almost want to consider this a Belgian Pilsner. If you were to add Belgian yeast to a lager you would get something similar to this. I have had many Belgian Pale Ales and even some Golden Ales that have more sweet Belgian fruits and candied sugars. Despite this, I love how this beer presents itself. The bitterness is like that of a pilsner amplified into the realms of Belgian beer. I really think a lot of people that like so called Belgian Lagers like Stella will realize that if you took that beer and made it is more mature, fermented and super complex, and definitely unfiltered, you would get a golden ale truly worthy of then name, Duvel. This isn’t Stella at all though, no where near its league as Ommegang is legend amongst the beer world. This beer is mix thought. Some flavors of strong candied sugar on warm sweet and biscuit bread, vanilla, pilsner flavor like cereal, pears, orange peel, grapes, lemon, some grassy, tangy, pine and pineapple with grapefruit hops. There is is sour dough bready after taste as well. Like a rye bread. Quite the delicious beer at that. I would have to compare Duvel vs. this one to see if one is better than the other. Many beer lovers may like this one 😛